function ksort(inputArr, sort_flags) {
    //  discuss at: http://phpjs.org/functions/ksort/
    // original by: GeekFG (http://geekfg.blogspot.com)
    // improved by: Kevin van Zonneveld (http://kevin.vanzonneveld.net)
    // improved by: Brett Zamir (http://brett-zamir.me)
    //        note: The examples are correct, this is a new way
    //        note: This function deviates from PHP in returning a copy of the array instead
    //        note: of acting by reference and returning true; this was necessary because
    //        note: IE does not allow deleting and re-adding of properties without caching
    //        note: of property position; you can set the ini of "phpjs.strictForIn" to true to
    //        note: get the PHP behavior, but use this only if you are in an environment
    //        note: such as Firefox extensions where for-in iteration order is fixed and true
    //        note: property deletion is supported. Note that we intend to implement the PHP
    //        note: behavior by default if IE ever does allow it; only gives shallow copy since
    //        note: is by reference in PHP anyways
    //        note: Since JS objects' keys are always strings, and (the
    //        note: default) SORT_REGULAR flag distinguishes by key type,
    //        note: if the content is a numeric string, we treat the
    //        note: "original type" as numeric.
    //  depends on: i18n_loc_get_default
    //  depends on: strnatcmp
    //   example 1: data = {d: 'lemon', a: 'orange', b: 'banana', c: 'apple'};
    //   example 1: data = ksort(data);
    //   example 1: $result = data
    //   returns 1: {a: 'orange', b: 'banana', c: 'apple', d: 'lemon'}
    //   example 2: ini_set('phpjs.strictForIn', true);
    //   example 2: data = {2: 'van', 3: 'Zonneveld', 1: 'Kevin'};
    //   example 2: ksort(data);
    //   example 2: $result = data
    //   returns 2: {1: 'Kevin', 2: 'van', 3: 'Zonneveld'}

    var tmp_arr = {},
        keys = [],
        sorter, i, k, that = this,
        strictForIn = false,
        populateArr = {};

    switch (sort_flags) {
        case 'SORT_STRING':
            // compare items as strings
            sorter = function (a, b) {
                return that.strnatcmp(a, b);
            };
            break;
        case 'SORT_LOCALE_STRING':
            // compare items as strings, original by the current locale (set with  i18n_loc_set_default() as of PHP6)
            var loc = this.i18n_loc_get_default();
            sorter = this.php_js.i18nLocales[loc].sorting;
            break;
        case 'SORT_NUMERIC':
            // compare items numerically
            sorter = function (a, b) {
                return ((a + 0) - (b + 0));
            };
            break;
        // case 'SORT_REGULAR': // compare items normally (don't change types)
        default:
            sorter = function (a, b) {
                var aFloat = parseFloat(a),
                    bFloat = parseFloat(b),
                    aNumeric = aFloat + '' === a,
                    bNumeric = bFloat + '' === b;
                if (aNumeric && bNumeric) {
                    return aFloat > bFloat ? 1 : aFloat < bFloat ? -1 : 0;
                } else if (aNumeric && !bNumeric) {
                    return 1;
                } else if (!aNumeric && bNumeric) {
                    return -1;
                }
                return a > b ? 1 : a < b ? -1 : 0;
            };
            break;
    }

    // Make a list of key names
    for (k in inputArr) {
        if (inputArr.hasOwnProperty(k)) {
            keys.push(k);
        }
    }
    keys.sort(sorter);

    // BEGIN REDUNDANT
    this.php_js = this.php_js || {};
    this.php_js.ini = this.php_js.ini || {};
    // END REDUNDANT
    strictForIn = this.php_js.ini['phpjs.strictForIn'] && this.php_js.ini['phpjs.strictForIn'].local_value && this.php_js
        .ini['phpjs.strictForIn'].local_value !== 'off';
    populateArr = strictForIn ? inputArr : populateArr;

    // Rebuild array with sorted key names
    for (i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
        k = keys[i];
        tmp_arr[k] = inputArr[k];
        if (strictForIn) {
            delete inputArr[k];
        }
    }
    for (i in tmp_arr) {
        if (tmp_arr.hasOwnProperty(i)) {
            populateArr[i] = tmp_arr[i];
        }
    }

    return strictForIn || populateArr;
}